Literary Agent
Head over to my Instagram for an #askagent --- I'll be answering the top questions in future posts! 📚✍🏽
Literary Agent
Jessica Mary @JMTuckerman
@annmrose Okay now my actual question: how long do you read a manuscript before you decide it's not for your list? (Ringo also wants to know) pic.twitter.com/tg7GaFbquCThere is no hard answer here. I read for as long as I need to. And sometimes that leads to more reading and more until it’s the end and I need to rep it
Literary Agent
Alyssa Alessi @AlyssaAlessi
@annmrose My question is very specific to you. I read somewhere that you don’t like stories that start with waking from a dream. You liked a pitdark pitch of mine but I haven’t sent you a query because…guilty of said opening. Should I send anyway?I will ask a question back. Are you 100% sure this is the best and only opening for your book? If you can confidently say yes, take your shot. Sometimes there are exceptions. But if you think that maybe you could start it somewhere else, give it a try and see how it goes ❤️
Literary Agent
d.m.howe - self-immolation @DavidHoweWrites
@annmrose Have you noticed an improvement in general queries from writers that use book coaches? And would you recommend them for debut writers?Unless they tell me they have used one I have no way of knowing, so I don’t have any statistics on this.
I think writers need to do whatever works for them.
Literary Agent
Jessica Seitz 윤수영 @jseitzwrites
@annmrose What do you think is an appropriate word count range for a MG novel in verse? Thank you!It’s really hard to nail down word count when it’s a book in verse. I would say you should make sure your page count doesn’t get too high.
Literary Agent
Gina Denny @ginad129
@annmrose Agents say they’ll respond in, say, 6-8 weeks. They use QueryManager. It’s been 12, 16, 20 weeks and QM still says “no decision has been made”. Nudge? Consider it a pass? Some of these agents have since closed to queries, so no clear way to reach them.Everything is taking longer these days. You know they have it, so I would say just be patient. ❤️
Literary Agent
Leah Bauer @L_R_Bauer
@annmrose When considering submission materials, what’s your process for deciding to pass on an MS, offer an R&R, or request a full MS?If a sub is something that the concept and writing just grabs me I will request the full. If the writing and concept are good but then things fall apart but I see a clear path I might request an R&R. If all the stars align, I will offer.
Literary Agent
Russell Epp-Leppel 💜💀 @leppeppel
@annmrose If a novel is based on a previously self-published (then self-un-published) novella, is that something to mention in the query?It’s a different product at the end of the day so I don’t think it’s necessary.
Literary Agent
Literary Agent
Flaviana is Querying!! @ms_hipstory
@annmrose close to querying a historical fiction set in the dust bowl..but with magical elements.Do I pitch as Historical Fantasy OR Historical with speculative elements? I feel like historical fantasy leans medieval, but I'm probably wrong (and not an agent).
I think either of those terms would work.
Best of luck!
Literary Agent
Brandon B Chambers @brandonsguide
@annmrose Why do some agencies have a "No from one is a no from all" policy? Like, I genuinely have never been told the benefit of it. Likewise, how often do you share queries with colleagues?I share queries with agents both within my own agency and outside of it.
If an agency is really tight and knows what each other is looking for I guess that is why they do that but otherwise I’m not sure.
I’m personally fine getting a query one of my colleagues rejected.
Literary Agent
Literary Agent
Alexandra Z. Lazar @alexandrazlazar
@annmrose If the book has a prologue, should it be included in the pages sent with the query? Or should the sample start with Chapter 1? I know some agents are wary of prologues and I wouldn’t want to scare anyone off.If you truly NEED the prologue you should include it. If it’s something you could leave off I would question if the story really needs it at all. 😉
Literary Agent
Judith L Webster @JudithLWebster
@annmrose Are tv shows or movies ok to use as comps? I’ve heard some agents think those are “too big” to include.I think they can be very effective to help set up tone for a book. I think the trick is to say how they are a comp, since not all TV watchers read (a travesty, I know). So like if you like the medical drama of Grey’s Anatomy you will love this book.
Literary Agent
Charles Suddeth @CharlesSuddeth
@annmrose New Adult?Independent category or YA with heat?
NA is really only a category that independent publishers use (self published). For traditional publishing it needs to either sit in YA or Adult.
Literary Agent
Matt is writing his heart out @mattr1682
@annmrose Between being super professional and bringing your own voice to a query, which is preferable? Like my writing is a bit quirky so my query is as well and I'm a tad nervous about that.You can be quirky and professional. @TPhillipsWriter pulled it off perfectly in his query to me.
Literary Agent
JustMeKer @JustMeKer
@annmrose And just because 🙂, what is your go-to beach/poolside book to read? (Not for work, just for you.) And what's the book that has stayed with you and why?My last beach read was a thriller so I’m all over the place when it comes to that 🤣
One of my favorite books of all time (that isn’t a client book) is The Awesome. I don’t think enough people have read it but it is so fun!
Literary Agent
Steven Shelton 👬🌈 @ssheltonauthor
@annmrose Sorry to be a pig with Q#2. I'm taking your advice and cutting 20K words from my low fantasy MS. I'm also switching POV from 3rd-person limited to 1st-person past (the voice sounds better). Is it ever worth re-querying agents who initially rejected it if they didn't ask for it?Those are some big changes! I always like to say, don’t self reject. Shoot your shot!
Literary Agent
A. R. @A_R_Makes_Art
@annmrose Is it ok to send a gentle nudge to an agent who hasn't replied to an initial query for 3 months? There's no "x amount of time means no" or estimated time for a reply on their profile, and I'd like to query someone else at that agency. Or would this considered to be rude?That’s tough. If there’s no info on their general response time, a quick nudge feels like it should be okay. If they don’t respond maybe wait another 3 than query the other agent and just give them a heads up about the first query and you assumed it was a pass from them
Literary Agent
JustMeKer @JustMeKer
@annmrose Hi! Are "quiet" books dead? Or is there still room for them in the world of high stakes publishing?Ironically I was just talking to an editor about quieter books and how they are still needed ❤️
The trick with a quiet book is to still have a strong hook.